Sotomayor -- TurnerAlexa Danielle Sotomayor of Russellville and Eric William Turner of Russellville are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Al and Tammie Sotomayor of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Al and Sandy Sotomayor of Russellville, the late Bill Basinger of Russellville and Sharon Modlin of Russellville. Alexa is a 2012 graduate of Russellville High School and is currently a student at ...

Mosley -- TackettMikayla Mosley and Tanner Tackett are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Sherry Mosley of Appleton. She is the granddaughter of Maxine Howard of Appleton, Gary Riley of Siloam Springs and the late Loeta Owens of Appleton. Mikayla is a 2015 graduate of Hector High School and is currently attending UACCM in Morrilton for nursing. The prospective groom is the son of Terry and Laura Tack...

Gracie -- RoyGracie — Roy Scott and Dusene Gracie of Hot Springs and Jeff and Michelle Roy of Ola would like to announce the engagement and forthcoming wedding of their children, Kathryn Jade Gracie and Justin Michael Roy. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Jim and Judy Vessel of Vian, Okla., and Peggy and the late Billy Gracie of Pine Bluff. The bride-elect is a 2011 Lake Hamilton High School graduate, 2014 graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Rus...

Duncans celebrate 50th anniversaryCarlous and Donna Duncan recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on June 22, 1966. Their children will be hosting a reception at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at Outdoor Living Center. Friends and relatives are invited.

Keefer -- NelsonAmber Marie Keefer of Jonesboro and Nicholas Joe Nelson of Russellville are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Danise Gann of Alton, Mo., and Ric and Julie Keefer of Jonesboro. Amber is a graduate of Nettleton High School and a 2014 graduate of Arkansas State University. She is currently working as a fifth-grade teacher. The prospective groom is the son of Sheila and Rodney Miller of...

BirthsPerry Hannah and Michael Perry of Russellville welcomed their daughter, Ellis Raegen Perry, on July 1, 2016. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 19 ¾ inches long. Her grandparents are Jason and Jennifer Howard of Pottsville and Paul David and Cristi Carpenter of Atkins. Her great-grandparents are Jim and Charlotte Teeter of Dover, Betty and Louie Howard of Pottsville, Steve and Deanne Tanner of Atkins and David and Vickey Carpenter of Atkin...

Ridgeway and Blasdale wedLaura Elizabeth Ridgeway and Niall Alan Blasdel were united in marriage Saturday, June 18, at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. Pastor Doug Hambrick officiated. Tom and Katherine Ridgeway of Russellville are the parents of the bride. Grandparents are Margrette Bass of Pottsville, the late James H. Bass and the late Gerald and Wanda Ridgeway. Erick Blasdel of Flippin and Angela Blasdel of Mountain Home are the parents of the gr...

Jackson -- PoseyKaci Jackson and Luke Posey, along with their families, wish to announce their engagement and approaching marriage. Kaci is the daughter of Ray and Annette Jackson of Hallsville, Texas, and the granddaughter of James and Joyce Jackson of Hallsville, Texas, and Jerry and Regna Wood of Kilgore, Texas. The bride is a 2012 graduate of Hallsville High School. She attends Arkansas Tech University on a Golden Suns Volleyball scholarship. She is a can...

Martins celebrate 50th anniversaryBecause you have shared in their lives by your friendship and love, we invite you to join in the celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of our parents, Jim and Ann Martin on Saturday, July 9, 2016. Vows will be renewed by the couple at 2 p.m., at the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Atkins, followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. Mr. Martin and the former Ann Graves were married on July 9, 1966, at the First Baptist ...

Walters to celebrate 50th anniversaryWade and Shirley (Taylor) Walters of Dover will celebrate 50 years of marriage July 2, 2016. They were married at the United Methodist Church in Dover, July 2, 1966, by the Rev. Jimmy Brooks. Parents of the couple were the late W.P. (Hoss) and Hazel Taylor and the late Wade and Mildred Walters. The couple invite you to help celebrate with them on July 3, 2016, at the Dover Church of Christ from 2-4 p.m. Wade is a retired farmer and Shirley is ...

H.C. and Faye Dacus to celebrate 75th anniversaryFaye Lucy Dacus and Horace C. Dacus will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on June 28, 2016. Both Horace and "Mickey" Faye were born in Russellville in 1921, attended the First Baptist Church and graduated from Russellville High School in 1939. They enjoyed seeing treasured friends at their 60th high school reunion in 1999. Faye is the youngest of eight children, born to Ben and Ellen Lucy, whose 50th anniversary was celebrated in the C...

Streett -- TuggleMr. and Mrs. Alex G. Streett of Russellville are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary M. Streett of Washington, DC, to Clyde C. Tuggle of Atlanta, Ga., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Tuggle of Atlanta, Ga. Ms. Streett is Vice President for U.S. Government Affairs for BP America. Mr. Tuggle is Senior Vice President, Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer for The Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Tuggle has two childr...

River Valley Rewind (June 22, 2016)Reprinted from a 1976 edition of the Courier-Democrat. BEAUTY AND BRAWN at Saturday's Atkins Conglomeration Day are depicted by the two-year-old winners of the Little Miss Bathing Beauty and Mr. Muscle pageant. Audrey Johnston is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Johnston. Paul Scott is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Scott. Approximately 1,500 persons attended the annual fund-raising event sponsored by Atkins Jaycees. Activities also included g...

Births (June 19, 2016)• Weir Michelle and William Weir of Russellville welcomed their son, Ezekiel Zachariah Weir, on June 3, 2016. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19½ inches long. His siblings are William Jr., 11, and Jade, 9. His grandparents are Sherry and Chuck Poynter of Russellville and Dennis Weir of Russellville, Phyllis Maxwell of Atkins. His great-grandmother is Asako Poynter of Hector. • Thompson Kaci LeeAnn Rogers and Macy Tyrone Thompson of Russ...

Virginia Phillips graduates from United States Military AcademyCadet Captain Virginia Ann Phillips has graduated from the United State Military Academy at West Point and has been commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. She will enter the Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences Medical School in July and pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree. After graduation from medical school she plans on pursuing an orthopedic surgery residency. Virginia is the daughter of Brigadier General Michae...

Austin -- BallounMorgan Mae Austin of Russellville and Tyler Reed Balloun of Dardanelle are happy to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Greg and Rita Austin of Russellville. She is the granddaughter of Clayton and Lucy Reddell of Russellville and the late James and Faye Austin. Morgan is a graduate of Atkins High School and a graduate of Arkansas Tech University where she earned a Master's Degree in Education...

Births (June 12, 2016)• Chenowith Shea and John C. Chenowith of Pottsville welcomed their son, Grayson Gerald Chenowith, on May 24, 2016. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. His siblings are Dawson, 7, and Kimbyr, 4. His grandparents are Gerald and Sherri Chenowith of Pottsville, Eddy and Carron Cates of Marion and Teresa Edwards of Russellville. His great-grandparents are Virginia Thornhill and Marie Lambert of Russellville. • Andrews Sharlet Su...